Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845)
Term: March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837
Party: Democratic-Republican (mostly democratic)
Vice President: John C. Calhoun 1st term, Martin Van Buren 2nd term
Theme:Globalization
Globalization definitely impacted Andrew Jackson's presidency. It was seen throughout two prime events. First being the Trail of Tears. The removal of Indians had been a major part of Jackson's agenda during his presidency. The idea of removing the Native American tribes would allow American settlers to gain land further west. The Indian Removal Act was signed in 1830 allowing the President to negotiate with the tribes and buy territory. The discovery of gold created more desire to extend westward. This allowed America to globalize by extending the boundaries for citizens and establishing a new region for society.
The independence declared by Texas also supported the theme for globalization. Near the end of Jackson's term (1836), Texas managed to ascent and claim their independence. Globalization is represented by the continuos determination the Texans had. They strived for their rights as citizens and stood up against the Mexican rule. The popular Battle of Alamo took place defeating the Texans and killing most of their men. They fought back under their commander in Chief Sam Houston by attacking Santa Anna (the Mexican leader) during siesta which is another name for a nap. Although the U.S. government remained neutral many Americans gained support for the Texas citizens. These were the initial events which eventually led to Texas becoming apart of the U.S. in later years.
The Jacksonian era helped form the country into the strong nation it is today. Andrew Jackson rightfully deserves a B for his presidency. He was overall successful in leading the country, but faced challenges along the way. The challenges that stand out most among others include the Bank War, and the Nullification Crisis. But even with these problems in the way, Jackson managed to lead the nation and remain a powerful representation of the common man. He started off with many supporters, and gained even more during his influential terms as president.
Goals:
The seventh president of the United States Andrew Jackson, had various goals to accomplish within his terms. With the support of the democrats he tried to achieve government by the people, for the people. He wanted to maintain structure and authority but also made sure the central government didn't abuse its power. In his inaugural address in 1829 Jackson claimed he would respect states rights, but they must understand that the federal government had the final say. He also mentioned that the United States should be considerate and pay attention to Indian's and their wants and rights. He failed to accomplish these specific goals during his terms. The Trail of Tears is a prime example of how he failed to respect the rights of neighboring Native Americans. He showed this by removing the Cherokee tribes with military force to gain territory. More than 45,000 Indians were pushed further west during the Jacksonian era proving he ignored their wishes to live freely in their current settlements. He had to do this in order to gain more territory for Americans, but he didn't respect the wants and rights of the Natives. When claiming to represent all people of the U.S. he showed favoritism towards his fellow southern farmers. Most of the decisions made were in connection to his original Southern background. During his second address, he focused on the power between the federal and state governments. He wanted the country to be informed of the consequences the country could face if the states gained too much power. He felt the balance should be watched closely and the federal government should remain the strongest.
Relationship with Congress:
Jackson's relationship with congress was often shown through the issues of the bank. Jackson opposed the national bank for a variety of reasons. He thought the the bank acted too much like a branch of government, and it had too much power. The power was mainly found in the federal government. In 1832 conflict arose even further. Daniel Webster and Henry Clay presented Congress with a bill to renew the U.S. bank. Clay purposely created this charter, knowing if Jackson vetoed it he would loose the support of the wealthy men in the east. As Clay had predicted, Jackson did veto the charter even though Congress declared it constitutional. Jackson also relied on Congress for other issues including The Nullification Crisis, and the Indian Removal Act, both in which congress supported Jackson. Overall Jackson used the power of Congress in a different manner than previous Presidents. He did not rely on their policy-making but on the power to veto and show his political party throughout decisions. He would determine things based on his strong democratic views.
Positive/Negative Outcomes:
The most positive outcome includes the Indian Removal Act. The South was especially supportive of this because it provided more land for slave territory. They figured the more land, the more area to grow cotton, the more money they gained. The North was not as supportive because the Indian issue was not a major concern. The Natives were less common in the Northern region, but Jackson thought this move was vital for the nation as a whole. The law was passed by Congress because it was necessary for westward expansion. Although the treatment to the Natives was harsh, America benefited from this Act. This was the first steps to westward expansion and it led the citizens to colonize further west and settle in new areas. The Indian culture was interfering with the prospering and thriving nation so removing them was the best solution at the time.
The most negative outcome during Jackson's presidency is the Nullification Crisis. In response to the Tariff of Abominations Congress passed a new Tariff in 1832 that reduced rates, but failed to meet the southern demands. Jackson was therefore placed in the middle of more conflict. South Carolina was especially angered and given the name "nullies." Vice President John C. Calhoun also backed the south, causing even more complication. A state convention declared the tariff unconstitutional hence the null and void. Jackson responded to the nullification by urging congress to lower the tariff prices, yet also asked for authorities to enforce the revenue laws. The Nullification Crisis was the beginning of sectionalism in the union. It was the initial formation of the two separate groups that later on battled in a Civil War. This entire controversy could have been avoided if the tariff rates were originally reduced to meet the southern requests.
Influence:
The Spoils System influenced future generations. Although Andrew Jackson was not the first to use this system, he was the first to put this entire idea into effect. He felt that every man was equal and should have equal opportunity. To put this idea into full force he replaced federal employees with his specific party loyalists. The rotation within office holders would prevent them from having a permanent position and allow an assortment of diverse men to take the job. It also gained the strength of political party support which often led to ideas of government manipulation. Good and bad came out of the spoils system but it was used for years to come, obviously making it a successful development among political leaders.
Andrew Jackson accomplished many things during his presidency. The Spoils System became popular during his democratic era and provided a sense of direction for the years to follow. He also introduced the ideas of Westward expansion. President Jackson was not perfect, but no human will ever be. He made mistakes here and there but stepped forward and led America into it's first strong democratic government system. He solved conflicts according to the federal power, and earned himself a B for both of his terms as President.
Term: March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837
Party: Democratic-Republican (mostly democratic)
Vice President: John C. Calhoun 1st term, Martin Van Buren 2nd term
Theme: Globalization
Globalization definitely impacted Andrew Jackson's presidency. It was seen throughout two prime events. First being the Trail of Tears. The removal of Indians had been a major part of Jackson's agenda during his presidency. The idea of removing the Native American tribes would allow American settlers to gain land further west. The Indian Removal Act was signed in 1830 allowing the President to negotiate with the tribes and buy territory. The discovery of gold created more desire to extend westward. This allowed America to globalize by extending the boundaries for citizens and establishing a new region for society.
The independence declared by Texas also supported the theme for globalization. Near the end of Jackson's term (1836), Texas managed to ascent and claim their independence. Globalization is represented by the continuos determination the Texans had. They strived for their rights as citizens and stood up against the Mexican rule. The popular Battle of Alamo took place defeating the Texans and killing most of their men. They fought back under their commander in Chief Sam Houston by attacking Santa Anna (the Mexican leader) during siesta which is another name for a nap. Although the U.S. government remained neutral many Americans gained support for the Texas citizens. These were the initial events which eventually led to Texas becoming apart of the U.S. in later years.
The Jacksonian era helped form the country into the strong nation it is today. Andrew Jackson rightfully deserves a B for his presidency. He was overall successful in leading the country, but faced challenges along the way. The challenges that stand out most among others include the Bank War, and the Nullification Crisis. But even with these problems in the way, Jackson managed to lead the nation and remain a powerful representation of the common man. He started off with many supporters, and gained even more during his influential terms as president.
Goals:
The seventh president of the United States Andrew Jackson, had various goals to accomplish within his terms. With the support of the democrats he tried to achieve government by the people, for the people. He wanted to maintain structure and authority but also made sure the central government didn't abuse its power. In his inaugural address in 1829 Jackson claimed he would respect states rights, but they must understand that the federal government had the final say. He also mentioned that the United States should be considerate and pay attention to Indian's and their wants and rights. He failed to accomplish these specific goals during his terms. The Trail of Tears is a prime example of how he failed to respect the rights of neighboring Native Americans. He showed this by removing the Cherokee tribes with military force to gain territory. More than 45,000 Indians were pushed further west during the Jacksonian era proving he ignored their wishes to live freely in their current settlements. He had to do this in order to gain more territory for Americans, but he didn't respect the wants and rights of the Natives. When claiming to represent all people of the U.S. he showed favoritism towards his fellow southern farmers. Most of the decisions made were in connection to his original Southern background. During his second address, he focused on the power between the federal and state governments. He wanted the country to be informed of the consequences the country could face if the states gained too much power. He felt the balance should be watched closely and the federal government should remain the strongest.
Relationship with Congress:
Jackson's relationship with congress was often shown through the issues of the bank. Jackson opposed the national bank for a variety of reasons. He thought the the bank acted too much like a branch of government, and it had too much power. The power was mainly found in the federal government. In 1832 conflict arose even further. Daniel Webster and Henry Clay presented Congress with a bill to renew the U.S. bank. Clay purposely created this charter, knowing if Jackson vetoed it he would loose the support of the wealthy men in the east. As Clay had predicted, Jackson did veto the charter even though Congress declared it constitutional. Jackson also relied on Congress for other issues including The Nullification Crisis, and the Indian Removal Act, both in which congress supported Jackson. Overall Jackson used the power of Congress in a different manner than previous Presidents. He did not rely on their policy-making but on the power to veto and show his political party throughout decisions. He would determine things based on his strong democratic views.
Positive/Negative Outcomes:
The most positive outcome includes the Indian Removal Act. The South was especially supportive of this because it provided more land for slave territory. They figured the more land, the more area to grow cotton, the more money they gained. The North was not as supportive because the Indian issue was not a major concern. The Natives were less common in the Northern region, but Jackson thought this move was vital for the nation as a whole. The law was passed by Congress because it was necessary for westward expansion. Although the treatment to the Natives was harsh, America benefited from this Act. This was the first steps to westward expansion and it led the citizens to colonize further west and settle in new areas. The Indian culture was interfering with the prospering and thriving nation so removing them was the best solution at the time.
The most negative outcome during Jackson's presidency is the Nullification Crisis. In response to the Tariff of Abominations Congress passed a new Tariff in 1832 that reduced rates, but failed to meet the southern demands. Jackson was therefore placed in the middle of more conflict. South Carolina was especially angered and given the name "nullies." Vice President John C. Calhoun also backed the south, causing even more complication. A state convention declared the tariff unconstitutional hence the null and void. Jackson responded to the nullification by urging congress to lower the tariff prices, yet also asked for authorities to enforce the revenue laws. The Nullification Crisis was the beginning of sectionalism in the union. It was the initial formation of the two separate groups that later on battled in a Civil War. This entire controversy could have been avoided if the tariff rates were originally reduced to meet the southern requests.
Influence:
The Spoils System influenced future generations. Although Andrew Jackson was not the first to use this system, he was the first to put this entire idea into effect. He felt that every man was equal and should have equal opportunity. To put this idea into full force he replaced federal employees with his specific party loyalists. The rotation within office holders would prevent them from having a permanent position and allow an assortment of diverse men to take the job. It also gained the strength of political party support which often led to ideas of government manipulation. Good and bad came out of the spoils system but it was used for years to come, obviously making it a successful development among political leaders.
Andrew Jackson accomplished many things during his presidency. The Spoils System became popular during his democratic era and provided a sense of direction for the years to follow. He also introduced the ideas of Westward expansion. President Jackson was not perfect, but no human will ever be. He made mistakes here and there but stepped forward and led America into it's first strong democratic government system. He solved conflicts according to the federal power, and earned himself a B for both of his terms as President.
Bibliography:
"American President: Andrew Jackson." Miller Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://millercenter.org/president/jackson>.1824. "Andrew Jackson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson>.
"Andrew Jackson | The White House." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjackson>.